According to the Chicago Manual of Style, there is no common agreement about the phrase “turn of the ____th century.” For instance, if a statement describes an event as taking place “at the turn of the 18th century”, it could refer to a period around the year 1700 or one around the year 1800. As such, they recommend using only “turn of the century,” and only in a context that makes clear which transition is meant.

]]>By: John Smithhttp://boingboing.net/2011/12/08/yellow-kid-weil-autobiography.html#comment-1291413
Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:55:00 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=132816#comment-1291413I like when people correct authors over minor, insignificant errors.
]]>By: Dave Hhttp://boingboing.net/2011/12/08/yellow-kid-weil-autobiography.html#comment-1291385
Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:44:00 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=132816#comment-1291385They say there is a book that is given to all junior congressmen on how to conduct them selves in washington, now we know what book it is
]]>By: gilgar13http://boingboing.net/2011/12/08/yellow-kid-weil-autobiography.html#comment-1291041
Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:26:00 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=132816#comment-1291041Great book, but why not read it for free at the online library here, http://www.archive.org/details/yellowkidweilaut00weil instead of buying at Amazon?
]]>By: GregShttp://boingboing.net/2011/12/08/yellow-kid-weil-autobiography.html#comment-1290936
Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:01:00 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=132816#comment-1290936If he were alive today, we’d probably be referring to him as “Senator Weil”.
]]>By: jimhhttp://boingboing.net/2011/12/08/yellow-kid-weil-autobiography.html#comment-1290877
Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:12:00 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=132816#comment-1290877Ain’t no golden age like the current one. I’m sure the Kid would have enjoyed hearing about fleecing millions of people at once, getting caught, and then having the Fed cool out the marks (and kick in an extra $700B).
]]>By: ackphthttp://boingboing.net/2011/12/08/yellow-kid-weil-autobiography.html#comment-1290843
Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:17:00 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=132816#comment-1290843I think that’s true- to be a really fluent liar, you have to in some way believe in the lie yourself. Whatever lie/reality alert mechanism that would cause conflict in a “normal” brain is turned off so that the conflict cannot impair the delivery of the lie.

And then some people believe that if they have an opportunity to cheat someone, they’d be foolish to pass it up, and any fault lies with the person dumb/conceited/greedy/dishonest enough to be cheated.

]]>By: Andrew Forresthttp://boingboing.net/2011/12/08/yellow-kid-weil-autobiography.html#comment-1290725
Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:03:00 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=132816#comment-1290725Pretty sure you’re wrong! Turn of the 20th C was 1901; turn of the 19th C was 1801.
]]>By: Pavlohttp://boingboing.net/2011/12/08/yellow-kid-weil-autobiography.html#comment-1290651
Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:55:00 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=132816#comment-1290651It is really a wash-wash. It’s full of good old con artists anecdotes, albeit Mr. Weil takes credit for all of them. Would be OK book if it were under 50 pages, instead he goes on repeating himself for 200 pages! It’s not comparable to Big Con, nor to The Man Who Sold Eiffel Tower.
]]>By: Wordguyhttp://boingboing.net/2011/12/08/yellow-kid-weil-autobiography.html#comment-1290648
Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:53:00 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=132816#comment-1290648Wow, that’s an old necklace.
]]>By: flosoflhttp://boingboing.net/2011/12/08/yellow-kid-weil-autobiography.html#comment-1290604
Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:08:00 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=132816#comment-1290604Pretty sure “turn of the 19th” is correct, indicating 1899->1900 (or 1900->1901 for pendants).
]]>By: paul beardhttp://boingboing.net/2011/12/08/yellow-kid-weil-autobiography.html#comment-1290580
Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:30:00 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=132816#comment-1290580Isn’t a lack of self-awareness a feature for con-men, rather than a bug? It’s all about projecting a false reality: why not start with yourself?
]]>By: Paul Rhttp://boingboing.net/2011/12/08/yellow-kid-weil-autobiography.html#comment-1290569
Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:00:00 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=132816#comment-1290569“from the turn of the 19th century up to WWII” You don’t see as many 140-year careers these days. Today’s conpersons have gotten soft.
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